A FRAUDSTER who ripped off stores across the south of England was trapped in Southampton when he tried playing the same trick.

Stephen Wright, 41, returned computer hard drives about 30 minutes after purchase, claiming they were either the wrong sort or too expensive, and received a refund.

But the city crown court heard that in the interim he removed the internal workings and replaced them with either inferior or non-functioning components. He would then sell the fraudulently bought hard drives on the Internet.

Prosecutor Rebecca Austin said Wright principally targeted Staples stores, striking once in Basingstoke and twice in Portsmouth before coming to Southampton, where he asked to buy three hard drives.

The sales assistant became suspicious as by that time a photograph had been circulated of a male who had carried out the fraudulent transactions on earlier occasions. But by the time the assistant returned, the man had left.

He was however seen to get into an MG vehicle and Wright was later arrested.

Thirty-nine hard drives were found in the vehicle and a further 137 were found at his home.

Wright was later identified from CCTV footage and his fingerprints were found on several receipts.

Wright, from Purfleet, Surrey, admitted 11 charges of fraud, possessing items in connection with fraud and converting criminal property involving more than £13,000.

He received an 18-month suspended sentence with a 200-hour community order and two years’ supervision.